New York City's Sex Abuse Lawsuits Get New Life as Council Passes Bill
A major victory for survivors of sex abuse, the New York City Council has approved a bill that will allow previously dismissed lawsuits against the city to move forward. The legislation, which is now awaiting the mayor's signature, creates an 18-month window for survivors to file new claims and opens up institutions as potential defendants.
The law was enacted last year, but hundreds of cases were thrown out by a Bronx judge who ruled that the statute didn't apply retroactively. However, after months of advocacy from lawyers, advocates, and survivors, lawmakers have revised the bill to clarify that plaintiffs can sue entities, not just individuals, for incidents that occurred before the amendment.
The move comes as a relief to many survivors, including Jerome Block, who represents 600 plaintiffs suing the city for abuse they suffered at juvenile detention centers. "When the dismissal of hundreds of cases came down, it was devastating to the survivors," Block said. "They had the courage to come forward, and then, they basically had the rug pulled out from under them."
The new bill addresses a technical issue that had blocked lawsuits against institutions in the first place. Under previous law, courts ruled that the changes to the statute of limitations didn't apply retroactively, but the revised bill creates a civil cause of action for crimes of gender-motivated violence that occurred before January 2022.
Survivors who filed during the original lookback window between March and March 2025 will be able to amend or refile their claims. The law also allows new lawsuits for older incidents, potentially affecting institutions like hospitals.
The estimated cost of the bill could be as high as $1 billion, but advocates say it's a small price to pay for giving survivors justice. "We want to make sure that survivors have the ability to seek justice on all levels," said Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, the bill's main sponsor.
As one woman who plans to sue Jeffrey Epstein's estate under the new lookback window puts it, "This is a huge step forward for survivors of abuse. We've been fighting for years, and finally, we're seeing real progress."
A major victory for survivors of sex abuse, the New York City Council has approved a bill that will allow previously dismissed lawsuits against the city to move forward. The legislation, which is now awaiting the mayor's signature, creates an 18-month window for survivors to file new claims and opens up institutions as potential defendants.
The law was enacted last year, but hundreds of cases were thrown out by a Bronx judge who ruled that the statute didn't apply retroactively. However, after months of advocacy from lawyers, advocates, and survivors, lawmakers have revised the bill to clarify that plaintiffs can sue entities, not just individuals, for incidents that occurred before the amendment.
The move comes as a relief to many survivors, including Jerome Block, who represents 600 plaintiffs suing the city for abuse they suffered at juvenile detention centers. "When the dismissal of hundreds of cases came down, it was devastating to the survivors," Block said. "They had the courage to come forward, and then, they basically had the rug pulled out from under them."
The new bill addresses a technical issue that had blocked lawsuits against institutions in the first place. Under previous law, courts ruled that the changes to the statute of limitations didn't apply retroactively, but the revised bill creates a civil cause of action for crimes of gender-motivated violence that occurred before January 2022.
Survivors who filed during the original lookback window between March and March 2025 will be able to amend or refile their claims. The law also allows new lawsuits for older incidents, potentially affecting institutions like hospitals.
The estimated cost of the bill could be as high as $1 billion, but advocates say it's a small price to pay for giving survivors justice. "We want to make sure that survivors have the ability to seek justice on all levels," said Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, the bill's main sponsor.
As one woman who plans to sue Jeffrey Epstein's estate under the new lookback window puts it, "This is a huge step forward for survivors of abuse. We've been fighting for years, and finally, we're seeing real progress."
I'm still not convinced that this bill is gonna make a huge difference in the lives of these survivors... like, think about it, $1 billion is a lotta cash 
but how much of that actually goes towards supporting the people who need it most? And what about all the institutions that are gonna be taken to court? They're just gonna pass the buck to some other entity, right? 
I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a start and all, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here...
This is a huge win for the #MeToo movement in the US! It's heartbreaking to think that hundreds of survivors were affected by a technical loophole that made it impossible for them to seek justice. The fact that lawmakers are now allowing survivors to refile their claims and sue institutions like hospitals for abuse they suffered years ago is a testament to the power of advocacy and perseverance 
. I'm glad that Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers is championing this cause - she's doing amazing work to give survivors justice! 
The estimated cost might be significant, but it's a small price to pay for healing and closure for these brave individuals 
. Let's keep supporting survivors and holding institutions accountable for their actions 
.
but now that this bill has passed, i can only imagine how relieved those survivors must be 
it's not just about giving them justice, it's about acknowledging what happened to them and making sure they're supported as they move forward 
just had the most epic news update! so like, NYC council passed this bill that gives a second chance to people who got messed with in the past 
it's crazy how much courage those survivors had to speak up only to have their cases dismissed...but now, thanks to this new law 
I'm so relieved that justice is finally being served to those brave survivors of sex abuse in NYC. The new bill is a game-changer, it's amazing how one small tweak can make such a huge difference in their lives 
. This law might cost $1billion, but it's worth every penny if it brings healing and closure to those who've been through so much 
.
It's crazy how institutions like hospitals could just sweep it under the rug all these years.
.
. And finally, survivors like that woman talking about suing Jeffrey Epstein's estate... 
guess that'll be a nice influx of cash for those lawyers 
. seriously though, I feel bad for those folks who've been waiting years to get justice, it's a shame it took so long for lawmakers to get on board 
. maybe they can start calling it "survivor welfare" lol, because that's basically what this bill is 
I feel like such bad luck when I heard this news 
This new bill is literally a lifesaver for so many people 
. It's crazy that they had to fight for so long just to have their voices heard 
. I'm low-key hyped 
that survivors can finally get the justice they deserve 
.
... I mean, who even deals with this stuff? 
And now we're expected to shell out a billion bucks for some lawsuits? That's not exactly what I call 'justice' 
... but hey, at least those survivors are finally getting their day in court 
.
. The fact that institutions like hospitals are now on the hook too is just amazing 
. Don't even get me started on the cost, I know it sounds steep, but $1 billion for justice? Worth. Every. Penny 
and advocating for these survivors like their lives depend on it 
. Bring on those lawsuits! 
#JusticeForSurvivors #NYC #SexAbuseReform
. The city should've done more to support them from the start. I don't think $1 billion is too much for what these people have been through